Community-Driven Strategies for Improving Postsecondary Outcomes of Deaf People.

Garberoglio, Carrie Lou; Guerra, Diego H.; Sanders, Genelle T.; Cawthon, Stephanie W.

This study relied upon the lived experiences of deaf communities to develop community-driven solutions for eliminating employment and educational attainment gaps within deaf communities. Community conversations , a community-based participatory research model, was used to engage a broad cross-section of deaf community members and stakeholders in five U.S. cities to generate strategies for improving postsecondary outcomes for deaf individuals. Analysis of the 1,148 ideas generated by community members revealed eight key strategies: (a) engage in system change strategies; (b) improve partnerships and resource sharing; (c) strengthen transition planning; (d) build communities of support for deaf youth; (e) strengthen youth skills; (f) support families; (g) improve access to programs and services; and (h) provide professional development. System change requires a commitment from all components of the system, and local communities play an important role in this work.

UNITED States; ABILITY; ACTION research; COMMUNITIES; COMMUNITY health services; CONVERSATION; DEAFNESS; DECISION making; FAMILIES; EMPLOYMENT of people with disabilities; HEARING disorders; HARD of hearing people; INTERPROFESSIONAL relations; PEOPLE with disabilities; PROFESSIONAL employee training; REHABILITATION; SPECIAL education; TRAINING; COMMUNITY support; SOCIAL support; TRANSITIONAL programs (Education)

American Annals of the Deaf, 2020, Vol 165, Issue 3, p369

0002-726X

Academic Journal

10.1353/aad.2020.0024